® Cover Photo by Lisa W. Cumming Photography This issue reminds me of being a stu- WE ARE TRAINED TO BE dent/athlete in high school and college. I loved the game of basketball and from the THE BEST AT WHAT WE DO age of 13, I could be found somewhere in the neighborhood shooting hoops or at the local gym with a round ball in my hands. On Saturdays, guys from all over Lynchburg would be running full court games in Sandusky Junior High School’s QUEENS LAKE for $325,000 Pristine updated 2,632 sq. ft. Traditional Home 104 JUBAL PLACE gymnasium. Typically, I would be the on partially wooded 0.67 acre lot. Kingsmill only female in their midst. I held my own Cozy fireplace surrounded by bookcases & Brick Colonial with private lot in Meredith Collins, Publisher cabinets for all your favorite treasures a cul-de-sac. 3,000 sqft, 3 BRs, and enjoyed ample playing time. It was in Family Room. bonus room, 2.5 BAs with newly always “run it back” for the winners and there were many times I played Extensive hardwood, fresh paint & refinished hardwood floors, too many games to remember. new windows. updated tile in bathrooms, eat 1 yr. Home Warranty for purchaser. in kitchen, screened porch, and The game of basketball was really “my time”; a place where I could www.lizmoore.com/112LittleJohnRoad expansive master suite. Offered focus on the fundamentals and study the moves of those more talented at $340,000. than I was, without getting off track. When I was on a basketball court, Kasey Pittman, all I thought about was basketball. REALTOR® Time at home, however, included devotion to schoolwork, among 757-869-6142 other things like chores or feeding our dog, Herbie. My parents had 757-876-3838 high expectations of me, my sister and brother. Devoting time to home- [email protected] [email protected] www.lizmoore.com/susansmith www.lovewilliamsburglife.com work and preparation for tests was just understood, a given. I never really minded the academics because I always felt good when I brought home good grades. Plus, I always knew I could look forward to basketball when the books were closed for the day. In this issue, you will be introduced to a number of local student/ athletes whose lifestyles aren’t so different from what I experienced forty years ago. These dedicated young people are putting themselves into their lives at full force and trying to reap the benefits of their hard work 5303 FOUNDATION STREET in everything they do. Read on and find out more about some of our 2 BR, 2 BA, one level condo located in BRANDON WOODS talented student/athletes. NDN the heart of New Town. Open plan in- Stunning Upscale Home With 1st cludes LR opening to balcony & large Floor Owner’s Retreat, Walk In DR. Adjacent gourmet kitchen w/granite, Closets, Glamour Bath, stainless & breakfast bar. HW flooring Gas Fireplace, Granite Counters beautifully accents the main living spaces. In Kitchen, Cozy Breakfast Nook, Inside Master BR offers en suite BA. Crown 3. Andre & Luc Lipcius 25. Daniel Jones molding and neutral paint throughout. 2694 Sq. Ft. Amenities include underground parking, Don’t Miss! $369,500 6. Dominic DeModna 27. Clara Wincheski lobby, 2 interior elevators & fitness center. 8. Aquazia Jones 29. Russ Gibbons 11. Sean Hughes 31. Charlotte Kaspareck 14. Madisen Kopfer 34. Katy Henderson 757-870-0611 757-778-7900 [email protected] www.FaithHeinen.com • [email protected] 18. Jenna & Jessica Beattie 37. Kevin Onizuk 21. Chris Short 40. Noreen Dobratz 23. Jewel Walters 42. Hey Neighbor! © 2015 Collins Group, LLC. Williamsburg’s Next Door Neighbors is a community publication solely owned by Collins Group, LLC. It is published monthly for Williamsburg area residents. The stories within this publication are intended to introduce readers to their neighbors and are not endorsements for those individuals, their abilities, interests or profession. Wonderful 3BR/3BA in high- GOLF COURSE BEAUTY ly sought after neighborhood All brick custom 3,966 sqft home in wonderful Kingsmill. This on the 14th fairway! Huge Island home has been well main- kitchen with granite, stainless tained by original owners & is steel, & breakfast bar. Hardwood sited on a lovely level lot. Of- floors, vaulted rooms, office with built-ins. 1st & 2nd floor master fered for $380,000. suites. Listed at $439,900. 757-846-6774 757.810.7133 [email protected] [email protected] l www.IKnowWilliamsburg.com LIZ MOORE & ASSOCIATES • 757-645-4106 • WWW.LIZMOORE.COM 2 NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORSFEBRUARY2015 ANDRE & LUC LIPCIUS Lisa W. Cumming Photography Passionate About Baseball By Narielle Living Twins Andre and Luc Lipcius, both juniors because of growing up with it around us so head. “Nope. Usually, from the middle of No- at Lafayette High School, work hard in school much.” vember to early December is the only month and out of school. In school, their good grades In addition to being on the Lafayette High we take off. During the rest of the year we’re reflect their commitment to academic excel- School team, Andre and Luc also play baseball either playing or practicing,” he says. lence. Outside of the classroom, the boys for the Richmond Braves, an elite travel base- “We’re just starting to get back into things apply themselves diligently to their sport of ball organization that focuses on college de- now,” Andre adds. “Our break is over.” choice: baseball. velopment. The Richmond Braves have a fall Luc agrees that this schedule can be de- Standing about six feet tall, the boys have and a spring/summer season, allowing players manding, but it is necessary to maintain the a laid back, easygoing attitude that is a con- to work on their game all year. This type of skills they have developed. “It’s important to trast to their athletic prowess on the baseball schedule can become grueling for the boys, stick to this schedule because you have to fine field. Born in Annapolis, Maryland, the fam- and it can be difficult at times for them to tune what you already know. This sport is a lot ily settled in Williamsburg when the twins keep up with both baseball and school. “We of muscle memory, so if you don’t start prac- were a couple of months old. According to have to go to a couple of events, and some- ticing early everything’s going to be all out of Andre, the only reason they were born in An- times we can miss up to four days of school. whack when you get into games.” napolis was because the hospital had a good Once, we got way behind and had to catch Andre adds that during the season they reputation for delivering twins. “Our parents up. We’re pretty smart so it’s not hard for us, work out every day, in addition to practice. wanted to go up there because they had good but it’s stressful,” Andre says. Although baseball has many moments of hospitals for twins and stuff, so we were born Andre says that baseball, for them, con- standing and waiting, the athletes need to be there but lived here the rest of our lives,” he sumes a large portion of their life. “If you want in top physical shape. says. Both agree, though, that this area is a to be the best then you have to practice every With school work and working out, the great place to be. day. You have to work hard at it. You can’t take twins still find time to prepare for the game Influenced by their older brother, a lawyer time off from playing baseball, besides that outside of team practices. “We have team who is now thirty-six years old, as well as their one month in the off season, or you’re going practice after school, but we’ll go home and father, Andre and Luc grew up watching and to be behind the rest of the season.” hit after that, too. We’re lucky enough to have playing baseball. “We played multiple sports, For those who believed that baseball begins a cage in our backyard so we can hit there. but baseball is our number one sport,” Luc in the spring season and only continues to the Our dad built it,” Luc says. says. “We were just the best at it, probably fall, Luc offers a smile and slight shake of the The boys do not appear to be stressed at the NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORSFEBRUARY2015 3 mention of their heavy workload of school work and baseball. “You have got to stay chill, you know?” Luc says. Andre adds, “It’s kind of a stress reliever to play baseball. It gets our mind off of everything else.” Both boys heartily concur that baseball is not just a physical sport, but a cerebral one as well. “As Yogi Berra said, ninety percent of the Make it Happen game is mental, the other half is physical. He’s a character, but it’s true, baseball is a lot mental,” Luc says, smiling. Baseball is not the only sport the two have played. They used to play hockey, karate and basketball. “Basketball was our number two sport,” HOME EQUITY LINES Andre says. It became apparent to them at an early age that baseball INTRODUCTORY RATE was their true passion. FOR 12 MONTHS APR When talking about their personal bests in the sport, they both smiled at the memories. Luc says, “My first homerun was pretty cool. It happened when I was 9 and in a playoff game.